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Gazette Of The United States And Daily Evening Advertiser
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
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The Special Commission for trying prisoners in the Tower for high treason opened at Session-House, Clerkenwell-green, London. Commissioners including the Lord Chief Justice and others assembled, appointed a grand jury, and began examining witnesses on the first indictment.
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THE SPECIAL COMMISSION.
The Special Commission for the trial of those confined in the Tower on the charge of High Treason was at the Session-House, Clerkenwell-green.
The Commissioners were, his Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, the Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer, the Judges Grose, Lawrence and Buller, and Mr. Baron Hotham.
Their Lordships at half after nine o'clock in the morning assembled in Serjeant's Inn, whence they went in procession to Smithfield, where they were met by the county officers, &c. who attended them to Hicks's Hall. The whole way was lined with constables, and the crowd in the court and the adjoining streets, almost innumerable.
Their Lordships having taken their places on the bench, the Special Commission was read. The court then proceeded to the appointment of a grand jury, when out of the legal number on the panel were elected the following gentlemen, viz.
Benj. Winthrop, Foreman
Thos. Boddam
John Henry Synnott
George Ward
Edward Ironmonger
Joseph Lancaster
Benjamin Kenton
Thomas Cole
Rawson Hart Boddam
Robert Wilkinson
John Eyres
George G. Mills
William Pardoe
Alice Henry Wright
John Perry
John Hatchett
Samuel Winslow
Rowl. Stephenson
Henry Peter Cuffe
John Campbell
Samuel Hawkins
and John Hankey.
Tho. Everett Esq.
The Chief Justice addressed the grand jury and concluded with a humane admonition in favor of life. "It is", said he, "your business to stand forward in protection of your fellow-subjects, if innocent. If you shall believe them, by the evidence to be laid before you, not guilty of the heinous crime with which they stand charged, it is your duty to ignore the bills, and not subject them to a trial for their lives."
"But at the same time you ought also, if a sufficient ground of accusation shall appear, to take care of our gracious Sovereign, and the preservation of our happy and most valuable constitution."
The grand jury having retired, thirty-six witnesses were sworn to give their evidence on the first indictment; after which the jury proceeded in the examination of witnesses, and afterwards adjourned till ten o'clock this morning.
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Foreign News Details
Primary Location
London
Event Date
8th October
Key Persons
Event Details
The Special Commission assembled at Serjeant's Inn and processed to Hicks's Hall amid crowds. The commission was read, a grand jury was appointed with Benj. Winthrop as foreman, and the Chief Justice addressed them on protecting the innocent while safeguarding the Sovereign and constitution. Thirty-six witnesses were sworn for the first indictment, and the jury examined evidence before adjourning.